Child Benefit 2026: New Rates, the High Income Charge Explained

Child Benefit is a weekly payment made to the person responsible for bringing up a child under 16 (or under 20 if in approved education or training). From April 2026, the rates increased by 3.2%.

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2026-27 Rates

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– **Eldest or only child**: £26.05 per week (£1,354.60 per year) – **Additional children**: £17.25 per week each (£897 per year each)

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For a family with two children, that is £43.30 per week — £2,251.60 per year.

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The High Income Child Benefit Charge

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Households where the highest earner earns over £60,000 are subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), which claws back Child Benefit through the self-assessment tax system.

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For every £200 earned above £60,000, 1% of Child Benefit is clawed back. At £80,000, the full amount is clawed back and there is no financial benefit to claiming.

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The key thresholds (for 2026-27): – Below £60,000: keep all Child Benefit – Between £60,000 and £80,000: keep some, repay some – Above £80,000: full clawback — claiming is only beneficial for National Insurance credits

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Should High Earners Still Claim?

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Yes — even if you expect to repay it all. Claiming Child Benefit protects the non-working or lower-earning partner's National Insurance record, which counts toward State Pension entitlement.

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A parent who is not in paid work who does not claim Child Benefit may build gaps in their National Insurance record, reducing their eventual State Pension.

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How to Claim

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Claim online at gov.uk/child-benefit, or by completing form CH2. You can backdate claims up to 3 months from the date of the claim.

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